PEACE CAMP 2010--a protest camp from July 4th 2010 to October 2nd 2010 where homeless people slept in the City of Santa Cruz on the courthouse steps or at City Hall to protest the Sleeping and Blanket Bans. Currently Peace Camp 2010 is in the judicial phase.
Our goal is education, survival and change regarding the City's anti-homeless Sleeping Ban.
We demand City Council repeal or suspend this law and grant an amnesty for all sleeping and camping tickets issued.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

All Quiet Up to 1 AM at PeaceCamp2010 8-10

Between 20 and 40 people gathered, many laid out in sleeping bags, for the 36th night of Peacecamp2010's high profile protest and safe zone. With no sign of deputy disturbance when I left the campsite at 12:30 AM, Curbhugger Chris was hoping but "not daring to believe" that deputies would allow the campers a night of rest for the first time since last Thursday.

Newcomers and oldtimers rubbed noses as the night grew later. Rick and Amanda, who'd been present for one of the early "wake, warn, and interrogate" deputy expeditions, were back from Santa Monica to spend a night there. "It's a matter of principle", Rick explained.

Still ailing and without antibiotics, Curbhugger vowed he would no longer entertain impromtu media interviews. He did note that he'd been able to post a lot of shocking and impressive video on you-tube (see http://www.youtube.com/PeaceCamp2010) throughout the day, despite barely being able to stay on his feet due to what he said he recognized from past bouts as pneumonia.

The missing core message is "the homeless have created a safe place to sleep and use the bathroom, because the city and the county refuse to do so, instead using a law to make sleeping at night a crime."

Becky Johnson, Editor

Longtime Santa Cruz homeless advocate, Becky Johnson has written for Street Spirit, produced "Bathrobespierre's Broadsides: Civil Rights for the Poor" and has lobbied for homeless civil rights with HUFF, Homeless United for Friendship & Freedom, and produced her own television show "Club Cruz" which covered local and poverty issues. Currently Ms. Johnson is one of the founders of Peace Camp 2010 located on the courthouse steps until the City of Santa Cruz repeals the Sleeping Ban.